The surprise selection of former state BJP chief Somu Veerraju as its MLC candidate from MLAs quota has been raising uproar in both BJP and TDP. Somu Veerraju is known for his proximity with former chief minister and YCP chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy and also allegedly having business relations with him. He is also known as leading anti- Chandrababu Naidu and pro-Jaganmohan Reddy faction within the BJP.
As state BJP chief he has created havoc with his anti-TDP and anti- Amaravati accusations, even the then party chief Amit Shah chided him asking to mend his ways. At a party meeting in Tirupati, Amit Shah advised him if the growth of BJP in the state organise struggles against YCP government, but not against the opposition TDP.
With the serious accusations of selling party posts and the BJP becoming unpopular as B-team of the YCP, he was removed as state party chief by force and D Purandeswari was replaced in his place. Since then, he was practically kept idle in the party. His attempts to contest in last year’s elections was strongly opposed by TDP cadre and Chandrababu Naidu made it clear to the BJP leadership that even if TDP supports, none of its supporters will vote for him.
In such a background, his selection as MLC candidate and TDP’s approval surprised everyone. Many felt that the selection was made even without the knowledge of state party chief Purandeswari. Moreover, till Sunday morning there was no one from the BJP asking for an MLC seat.
However, the entire scene changed when former state organising secretary Ravinder Raju,who was sent out from the state on the allegations of encouraging groupism within the party and also Union minister of state Srinivasa Varma, who is a disciple of Somu, said to be played key role in this regard.
They put pressure on the party’s national organising secretary BL Santosh to bring pressure on the TDP for an MLC seat. Though names of PVN Madhav, Paka Satyanarayana, Vishnuvardhan Reddy and Tapana Chowdhury were discussed, both of them played their cards well in selection of Somu Veerraju.
But many TDP leaders are wondering why Chandrababu Naidu accepted his name and failed to protest on his candidature? It may be recalled in last year’s election when Raghurama Krishnam Raju’s name figured for Narsapuram Lok Sabha, it was BJP opposed his name and TDP was forced to settle him with an MLA seat. Now, TDP activists are questioning their leadership and how it accepted Somu Veerraju?
